Are you a kidney patient and clueless about what should you eat and what’s good for your kidneys? Well then, we have an answer!
Renal diet is a diet plan specifically designed for those suffering from kidney related problems. Kidneys play a very important role in purifying the blood. They demand diligent care to keep fit and functioning. Kidneys purify the blood and remove the wastes that come from the food intake. Renal diet makes sure that these toxic wastes are cut down from the blood.
There is no perfect renal diet that suits all. It varies from person to person and the type of renal problems they face. Not all kidney cases are same. Hence, there can be only generic guidelines that all the kidney patients should follow. They are mentioned here below.
Renal Diet Chart
Fluids for renal patients include tea, coffee, soups, water/ice, ice cream, soda, wine, beer or any such form of semi-solid food that melts into liquid form.
Kidneys are responsible for maintaining an optimum fluid level for effective functioning of the body. It retains and excretes fluid to attain that optimum level in the body. Excess fluid in the body can cause swelling, short-breathiness, weakness and high blood pressure.
Sodium is an essential element, the body requires in keeping the joints flexible and muscles supple. Kidneys play an important role in maintaining sodium balance in the body fluid to prevent joints from swelling.
Packed and processed food, potato chips, salt, cheese, dehydrated soups and table salt, all are loaded with sodium. Excess of sodium can cause increased blood pressure and thus, should be avoided. Therefore, make your regular food interesting with optimum sodium content using lemon and herbs. You can add other seasoning to add flavor in place of sodium chloride i.e. table salt.
Potassium levels tend to increase for those with kidney problems. Therefore, controlling it is important as potassium levels affect the heart and nervous system.
Fruits and vegetables like bananas, raisins, oranges, potatoes, mushrooms and tomatoes etc. have high potassium content. Hence, they should be avoided. Bran and chocolate also have high potassium content, so their intake needs to be controlled as well. Simultaneously, intake of low potassium containing foods like rice, bread, noodles carrots, lettuce, grapes, cranberries and apples should be included in the food list.
[Read:Bland Diet]
Protein intake may have to be increased or decreased depending upon the type of kidney problem. Proteins are vital for overall immune strengthening and the heart. After proteins are absorbed in the body, urea is released in the blood. For unhealthy kidneys, controlling this urea level is very difficult. Thus, protein level should be controlled. However, for those on dialysis, high protein intake is advised.
A few foods that have less protein content are high on carbohydrates and thus should be avoided. Foods rich in protein are poultry, milk, meat, seafood and dairy products. Low protein foods usually belong to the vegetables and cereals category.
[Read:10 diets that actually work]
Phosphorus is contained in foods like beer, cheese, milk, nuts, ice cream etc. High consumption of these foods should be avoided. These foods are often consumed given their high calcium content. But absorption of calcium is abysmally low by the damaged kidneys resulting in high levels of phosphorus in the body. This increased level of phosphorous causes joint pain, inflammation and skin problems.
Thus, foods with low phosphorus content like non cola sodas, hard candy and broccoli can be substituted against foods with high phosphorus content.
These are generic guidelines for people with affected kidneys. Therefore, it’s always necessary to consult your doctor or nephrologist about what’s best for your kidneys. Renal failure diets differ from the requirements of one person to the other. So, the diet charts made by professional dietician should always adhere to improve the condition of your kidney or at least prevent it from worsening.
Remember these quick tips in mind and keep your kidneys healthy. Do share your feedback with us!